Electrical switches



Dec. 10, 1963 J. E. HARDER ETAL 3,114,022

ELECTRICAL SWITCHES Filed Feb. 25, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet l RECLOSER RECLOSER RECLOSER WITNESSES INVENTORS John E. Harder 8 Qr Gene L.Miller Dec. 10, 1963 J. E. HARDER ETAL 3,114,022

' ELECTRICAL SWITCHES Filed Feb. 23, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 RECLOSER United States Patent 3,114,022 ELECTRIQAL SWllTCHES John E. Harder, Richland Township, Monroe County,

and Gene L. Milier, liiloomingtou, ind, assignors to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh,

Pa., a corporatiouof Pennsylvania Filed Feb. 23, 1961, Ser. No. 91,217

7 Claims. (Ql. 200-114) This invention relates, generally, to electric switches and, more particularly, to switches of a by-pass type.

In connection'with the operation of electrical devices in general, it is desirable to be able to safely deenergize the device for maintenance, inspection, repair, or removal of the device from the circuit without interruption of the customers service. In order to isolate the device, there has been suggested heretofore a basic combination of a by-pass blade and a pair of isolating switches incorporated into one unit with sequencing mechanism to complete the bypass connection of the stationary contact of the isolating switches before the blades of the isolating switches were opened. This type of by-pass switchingis satisfactory for general application such as the removal of induction regulators, boosters transformers or the like.

If the bypass switch mechanism "should be applied to bypass a circuit breaker of the automatic reclosing type to effect the removal of the breaker from service, and if a replacement circuit breaker is not immediately available, the circuit must be left :open or, if closed by operation of the by -pass switch mechanism, should include circuit protection means such as a fusible device in place of the removed circuit breaker mechanism.

Heretofore, the substitution of a fuse for a circuit breaker has been achieved by a pair of disconnect switches mounted on a support common to the disconnect switches and a by-pass blade, wherein the by-pass blade was hinged upon the common mounting and included a fuse element therein, such for example as in Patent No. 2,272,463, patented by W. A. Heinrich on Febru-ary 10, 1942. However, such apparatus required especially constructed complicated by-pass blade mechanism and hinged insulated sup-port means.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention generally stated, to provide a by-pass switch which shall be simple and efiicient in operation and which may be economically manufactured and installed.

More specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide a by-pass switch for a circuit interrupter, which by-pass switch is comprised of disconnect switches or fuse cutouts having interchangeable fuse holders and disconnect blades and a simple bypass blade as a means of providing inexpensive, simple, safe lay-passing means. In addition, an alternative involves the substitution of fuse protection.

It is yet another object of this invention to reduce the number of insulators in a bypass switch comprised of a pair of disconnect switches and a by-pass blade. Another object of this invention is toprovide a method of substituting fusible protection means for a recloser protection means in a circuit without interrupting the customers service.

Other objects of this invention will be explained fully hereinafter or will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

In accordance with one embodiment of this invention, a

pair of identical cutouts tor isolating switches are fixedly.

is pivotally mounted upon the stationary contacts of the two isolating switches by means of additional contacts or a substituted fuse holder.

on each isolating switch. The mounting means for the disconnect blades on the isolating switch mechanism may be adapted to selectively receive either the isolating blade Thus, when the bypass blade is closed and the disconnect switches are opened to facilitate safe removal of the recloser from the circuit, a jumper may be connected across the movable contacts of the isolating switches, a fuse holder may be substituted for one of the switch blades, and the discounect'switch blade and the substituted fuse holder are reclosed followed by opening of the by-pass blade to place the fuse in the circuit in place of the removed recloser device.

For a better understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a bypass switching mechanism showing this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of the bypass switching mechanism of FIG. 1 shown in combination with a recloser device, a fuse holder being substituted for one of the switch blades, and

FIGURES 3A, 3B and 3C are schematic illustrations of the sequence of steps performed upon the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2 to effect operation of the by-pass switch and the substitution of a fusible protector for the removed recloser device.

Referring to the drawings, particularly FIGS. 1 and 2, the by-pass switch mechanism shown therein comprises a pair of isolating switches or cutouts 10, 10 being shown in closed circuit condition, each fixed to an insulating support 11, 11 as by clamps 12, 12. The suppports 11, 11 are fixedly mounted in spaced relationship upon an elongated mounting bracket 13 by means of clamps 14, '14 engaging the insulating members intermediate the ends thereof. Any suitable mounting of course may be employed, and that shown is merely by way of illustration.

The isolating switches 10, 10 are identical and may be of the type described in Patent No. 2,829,218, patented by John E. Harderon April 1, 1958, and assigned to the same assignee as the present application, with certain exceptions as to detailed structure as hereinafter described.

Each cutout 1b, 10 is comprised of an upper fixed contact assembly 17 and a lower fixed contact assembly 18, the lower contact assembly being adapted to selectively mount either a disconnect blade 19 or a substitute fuse holder 20, as desired, in performing the substitution of a fusible protector for an automatic recloser in a manner to be hereinafter described. The disconnect blade 19 and the fuse holder 20 have identical mounting means and contact means for detachably engaging with the fixed contact assemblies 17 and 18. The disconnect blade 19 and fuse holder 20 are interchangeable in this sense.

Referring to the upper end of the interrupting device, it will be observed hat the upper stationary contact assembly 17 includes an inverted channel member 19A serving as a hood having a rear wall 20 fixed to the insulator 11 by means of the previously described clamp members 12. A terminal pad 21 is affixed in any suitable manner as by bolts 22, 22 atop the hood 19A and supports a line terminal 23 on one end thereof. The line terminal may be secured to the pad 21 in any suitable manner as by bolt 24. A contact 25 is secured within the hood 19A by means of a rear wall portion 26 fixed in abutting relationship with the rear wall 20 of hood 19 by meansof one or more bolts 27 on clamp member 12. Adjacent the outer end of the contact plate 25 is a detent portion 30 which serves to latch the upper contact of the disconnect blade 19 or fuse holder 20 in place, as more fully described hereinafter.

The lower stationary contact assembly 18 comprises a hood 31 having a top wall portion 32 and side wall portion 33. The side walls are bent inwardly toward each other at the base of the assembly 18 and are secured to the insulator 11 by lower clamp 12 and bolt means 34 on the outer ends of the clamp. The bolt means 34 also rigidly secure a flexible contact 37 into place under the hood 31.

A laterally extending portion 38 of the hood 31 supports a line terminal 39 having a rod configuration by means of a bolt 4t? extending through the extension 38 and also through an extension 42 of contact 37. The laterally extending rod terminal 39 provides a convenient means for connecting the isolating switches in circuit with the recloser by means of cable clamps which easily may be attached to the end of the rod 39.

The lower hood 31 has provided on its side walls 33 trunnion slots 45 for providing a pivot for a disconnect blade 19 or a fuse holder 20.

The disconnect blade 19 is an elongated conducting member having at the lower end thereof trunnions or stub shafts 46 engaging the previously described trunnion bearings 45, and a contact portion 47 spaced from said trunnions and engageable with the lower contact 37 when the blade 19 is in the closed position, as shown. At the upper end of the blade 19 there is provided a latching contact 48 engageable with the latching portion 30 on upper contact 25 when the blade is in the closed position, as shown. An operating ring 41 is provided adjacent the latching contact 48 to provide access for a hook stick.

The fuse holder 20, shown in position in one of the isolating switches in FIG. 2, is a drop out type and may be of the type described in detail in the previously mentioned Patent No. 2,829,218. The fuse holder is constructed to be readily substiuted for the previously described disconnect blade 19 by merely lifting the trunnions out of the trunnion bearings 45 in the lower contact assembly 18. The trunnions and contacts of the fuse holder corresponding to the previously described trunnion and contacts of the disconnect blade have been given the same reference numerals as the corresponding parts in the disconnect blade 19 as previously described.

The by-pass switch blade and associated mechanism 59, is mounted atop the cutouts and comprises a hinge support member 51 fixedly mounted atop one of the previously described terminal pads 21 by means of previously described bolts 22 on the pad. A fixed contact device 52 is mounted atop the other terminal pad 21 for receiving the by-pass switch blade 53 having one end pivotally mounted on the hinge support 51 by suitable pin means 54 and having the other end engageable with the fixed contact means 52.

The fixed contact means 52 comprises a pair of parallel spaced contacts 56, 56 operable to engage opposite sides of the end of switch blade 53. The contacts 56, 56 are mounted on a conducting base 57 which is connected to thepad 21 and upper contact through the conducting bolts 22, 22. To guide the blade 53 between the spaced contacts 56, 56 there is provided a blade guide comprising a pair of spaced members 58, 58 diverging at their outer ends for receiving the blade and guiding it between contacts 56, 56 as the blade is closed. The guide members are attached to the mounting 57 by means of one of the previously described bolts 22. An eye 59 is provided on the blade 53 intermediate its ends for hook stick operation.

A recloser which may be of the type disclosed in Patent No. 2,655,575, patented October 13, 1953 by J. M. Wallace et al., schematically represented in FIG. 2, may be connected in series circuit relationship between the switches 10, 10 by means of cables 60, 6t? clamped to terminal rods 39, 39.

Reference is made to FIGS. 3A, 3B and showing the combination of by-pass switch and recloser and the manner in which the switch and associated apparatus are operated to effect the by-pass operation for electrical devices in general, and a by-pass operation with substitution of a fusible device for an automatic recloser when the recloser is to be moved from the circuit for an extended period of time.

The normal position is shown in FIG. 3A where the by-pass blade 53 is open and the two isolating blades 19, 19 are closed to provide an electrical connection to the recloser R.

To by-pass the recloser R for removal from the circuit, the by-pass blade 53 is first closed, as in FIG. 3B. The recloser R may be opened. Thereafter, the two cutout blades 19, 19 may then be safely opened since the blade 53 electrically parallels the recloser R. The recloser is then removed.

In the event a replacement for the recloser R is available, the new recloser is substituted for the defective recloser. Thereafter, in sequence, the blades 19, 19 are closed followed by a reopening of the by-pass blade '53 to fully restore the circuit through the replacement recloser.

if a replacement recloser is not immediately available for a recloser to be taken out of service for an appreciable length of time, a jumper 61 (FIG. 3C) is attached across the terminal rods 39', 39 (FIGS. 1 and 2) after the bypass blade 53 has been closed, the blades 19, 19 opened and the recloser removed in the previously described sequence. A fuse holder 20 is substituted for either one of the disconnect switches 19, 19. It is to be understood that the steps of providing the jumper and substituting the fuse holder for a blade 19 may occur in any order after the recloser R has been removed. After the jumper has been provided across the switches and a fuse holder 20 has been substituted for one of the switch blades 19, the remaining blade 19 and substituted fuse holder 20 are closed. This stage of the operation is illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawing. Thereafter, the by-pass switch 53 is opened to thus insert the fuse in the circuit in place of the removed recloser, thus providing circuit protection until a circuit replacement recloser may be obtained. The fuse holder 20 includes a fuse link, selected to match the size of the recloser coil.

From the foregoing, it is seen that there has been provided a simple, safe economical structure for electrically by-passing a recloser and for substituting a fusible protector for an automatic recloser when a replacement recloser is not readily available.

The particular cutout devices shown are intended to be illustrative only, it being understood that any conventional cutout apparatus or disconnect switch may be substituted therefor. Thus, conventional available apparatus may be combined in the novel manner disclosed above to provide simple, economical by-pass means for a wide variety of electrical apparatus.

Since numerous changes may be made in the abovedesc-ribed constructions and different embodiments of the invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is intended that all the matter contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim as our invention:

1. In an electric switch: a first pair of spaced line contacts; a second pair of spaced line contacts; only one insulator for supporting each pair of contacts; a by-pass blade electrically connected to one contact of said firs-t pair of contacts and pivotally supported by one of said insulators for movement into electrical engagement with one contact of the second pair of said spaced contacts; a switch blade connected to one contact of each pair of contacts and pivotally supported by one of said insulators for engagement with the other contact of the corresponding pair of contacts; at least one pair of spaced contacts adapted to selectively receive either a switch blade or a fuse holder for bridging engagement with the contacts of said one pair of contacts.

2. In an electric switch: a first pair of spaced line contacts; a second pair of spaced line contacts; a single insulator for supporting each pair of contacts; a by-pass switch blade pivot-ally supported by one of said insulators and operable to connect one contact of said first pair of contacts to one con-tact of said second pair of contacts; the other contact of said first pair and said second pair adapted to selectively mount either a disconnect blade or a fuse holder for bridging the contacts of the corresponding pair. I

3. In combination: a pair of disconnect switches each having spaced line contact assemblies; one insulator for supporting the contact assemblies-of each switch; one assembly of at least one switch including mounting means for removably mounting a disconnect blade in pivotal bridging relationship with thespaced con-tact assemblies of said one switch; a circuit interrupter series connected with said switches and connected between the switches; a

by-pass blade means pivotally supported by one of said insulators for by-passing the disconnect switches and the recloser; said mounting means of said one disconnect switch being adapted to removably mount a fiuse holder in place of the disconnect blade.

4. In combination: a pair of disconnect switches each having spaced line contact assemblies; a single insulator for supporting the contact assemblies of each switch; one assembly of each switch including mounting means for removably mounting a disconnect blade in pivotal bridging relationship with the contact assemblies of the corresponding switch; a circuit breaker seriesconnected with said switches and connected between the switches; a bypass blade means pivotally supported by one of said insulators for by-passing the disconnect switches and the recloser; said mounting means of at least one of said pair of disconnect switches being adapted to removably mount 1 supported by one of said insulators and operable to connect one terminal of one pair of terminals to one terminal of the other pair of terminals, and support means attached to said insulators for fixing the insulators in spaced relationship.

6. A by-pass switch, comprising: two spaced insulators; a first pair of spaced line terminals supported by one of said insulators; a second pair of spaced line terminals supported by the other of said insulators and spaced from said first pair of line terminals; a switch blade individual to each pair terminals, each blade being connected to one terminal of the corresponding pair of terminals and operable to engage the other terminal of the corresponding pair of terminals; a by-pass blade pivotally mounted on one terminal of said first pair of terminals, said blade being supported by one of said insulators and operable to engage one terminal of the second pair of terminals; and support means attached to said insulators for fixing the terminal pairs'in spaced relation.

7. A by-pass switch comprising: only two insulators; a pair of spaced line terminals supponted by each insulator; a switch blade individual to each pair of terminals, each blade being pivotally connected to one terminal of the corresponding pair of terminals and openable to engaget-he other terminal of the corresponding pair; a bypass blade pivotally mounted on one terminal of one pair of terminals, said blade being supported by one of said insulators and operable to engage one terminal of the other pair of terminals; and support means attached to said insulators for fixing the insulators in spaced relation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,068,510 Pittman Jan. 19, 1937 2,087,744 Triplett July 20, 1937 2,272,463 Heinrich Feb. 10, 1942 2,548,129 Steinmayer Apr. 10,1951 2,734,965 Wood Feb. 14, 1956 2,809,244 Owens et al Oct. 8, 1957 

2. IN AN ELECTRIC SWITCH: A FIRST PAIR OF SPACED LINE CONTACTS; A SECOND PAIR OF SPACED LINE CONTACTS; A SINGLE INSULATOR FOR SUPPORTING EACH PAIR OF CONTACTS; A BY-PASS SWITCH BLADE PIVOTALLY SUPPORTED BY ONE OF SAID INSULATORS AND OPERABLE TO CONNECT ONE CONTACT OF SAID FIRST PAIR OF CONTACTS TO ONE CONTACT OF SAID SECOND PAIR OF CONTACTS; THE OTHER CONTACT OF SAID FIRST PAIR AND SAID SECOND PAIR ADAPTED TO SELECTIVELY MOUNT EITHER A DISCONNECT BLADE OR A FUSE HOLDER FOR BRIDGING THE CONTACTS OF THE CORRESPONDING PAIR. 